Automatic stop limit for gun control



p 1962 B. c. WELLS ETAL 3,054,297

AUTOMATIC STOP LIMIT FOR GUN CONTROL Filed March 3, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet1 FIG.|

FTTTTTI TRAIN DRIVE MOTOR TO MOTOR CONTROL SYSTEM :TIIITIIIH|1lllllllllllllllllllllll IllllllllllHlIlll ilHllllh-i 66 INVE TOR8 IlIHIIIIIllllllllllllllmnflfi! Cl L CHARLES J. MAHLER ATTORNEYS p 18,1962 B. c. WELLS ETAL 3,054,297

AUTOMATIC STOP LIMIT FOR GUN CONTROL Filed March 3, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet2 RIGHT TRAIN FIG.6

I INVENTORS BRUCE C. WELLS CHARLES J; MAHLER ATTORNEYS FIG.2

Sept. 18, 1962 B. c. WELLS ETAL AUTOMATIC STOP LIMIT FOR sun CONTROL aSheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 3, 1958 mm mm 4 km qI. r

I m In INVENTORS BRUCE C. WELLS CHARLES d. MAHLER BY mw mdE ATTORNEYSUnited States Patent 3,054,297 AUTOMATIC STOP LTMIT FUR GUN CONTROLBruce C. Wells and Charles J. Mahler, Buffalo, N.Y., as-

siguors, by mesne assignments, to the United States of America asrepresented by the Secretary of the Navy Filed Mar. 3, 1958, Ser. No.718,93tl Claims. (Cl. 74-35) The present invention relates to a stopdevice and more particularly to a new and improved limit stop mechanismsuitable for use with trainable gun mounts.

Moreover, the invention contemplates the provision of a new and improvedlimit stop mechanism for use with conventional power-operated gunswherein means are provided for determining the position of the guns atall times, and in which means, settable at will to difierent settings,give a visual indication of the position at which the stop devices ofthe mechanism are set to function during training of the guns, around anazimuth circle either in one direction or the other, as the case may be,and in which means controlled by the operation of the stop devicesfunction to provide a signal which causes the conventional driving motorto slow down before the guns reach the limits of their range ofoperation the driving motor being controlled remotely in anyconventional manner. Furthermore, the invention provides adjustable stopmeans which may overrun the initial stop setting due to failure of theslow-down mechanism of the aforesaid system without damage thereto ornecessitating resetting of the stop means. This arrangement overcomesdisadvantages encountered in prior art devices, for the reason that suchdevices require certain readjustments should overrunning occur.Moreover, the invention provides an improved limit stop mechanism whichis simple in structure, economical to manufacture and which possesseshighly satisfactory qualities of ruggedness and durability in service.

Briefly, the limit stop mechanism consists essentially of a main gearhaving a dial fixed thereto provided with a suitable degree scale and anindexing element cooperating therewith, the main gear being driven by aworm operatively connected to a conventional drive motor for the guns. Adegree scale is provided on the dial for indicating the stop setting fortraining in one direction, and a similar degree scale is provided on thedial for indicating the stop setting for training in the reversedirection, this training movement being hereinafter referred to as aright train and a left train. The device further includes stop settingdiscs, settable at will to different settings about the degree scale onthe dial, wherein the position of the discs with respect to the positionthe dial may be varied, if desired, from 50 to 360, for example, byunlocking normally locked pinions, cooperating with dial means androtating the pinions with respect to the aforesaid main drive gearassembly whereupon the dial means are moved to a selected setting. Thusthe stop devices function as the guns approach the desired gun trainingposition or angle. Neans including a potentiometer are provided andcooperate with each stop setting device and are actuate-d thereby toinitiate a signal. The signal is adapted to be employed to cause thedrive motor to slow down as the discs reach a point corresponding to thepreselected setting thereof.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved limit stop device for use with power driven gun mount.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of an improvedlimit stop mechanism for power-operated gun mounts wherein the guns aredecelerated before reaching the limits of their range of operation andwherein the actual training angles of the guns may be accuratelyindicated at all times.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an improvedlimit stop device wherein means, settable at will to difierent settings,automatically control the drive motor of a power-operated gun mount.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved limitstop mechanism wherein a signal developed in response to movement ofadjustable means settable at will to different settings causes the traindrive motor and/or the elevational drive motor to slow down as the gunsapproach a position corresponding to the setting of the adjustablemeans.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood byreference to the following detailed description when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the limit stop mechanism of thepresent invention in connection with a conventional train drive motorand gun mounts;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the limit stopmechanism;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 2;and

FIG. 7 is a View in diagrammatical form, illustrating the actuatingmechanism for operating the signal producing elements during guntraining cycles.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, thenumeral 11 generally indicates the limit stop mechanism constructed inaccordance with the present invention and which is particularly adaptedfor use with power operated gun mounts which include conventionalcomponents such, for example, as a training circle or gear 12 whichsupports a pair of guns G. The training circle is adapted to be drivenby a train drive motor 13 controlled by a conventional control unit (notshown), and a through motor shaft 14, Worm 15 mounted on one end ofshaft 14 in driving engagement with a worm wheel 16 secured to shaft 17which carries a train pinion 18 in engagement with training circle 12.

It will be understood that upon operation of the motor the guns aretrained in either of two directions such, for example, as to the rightor to the let Since the aforesaid gun mount construction and arrangementis well known in the art to which the present invention pertains furtherdetailed description of the mount is deemed unnecessary.

The limit stop mechanism of the present invention is provided With adriving gear or Worm wheel 24 adapted to be connected to the motor shaft14 by a flexible shaft 25 having a worm 26 on one end thereof inengagement with worm wheel 24 and a gear 27 on the other end thereof inengagement with a gear 28 mounted on the motor shaft 14 and thus by thisarrangement a driving connection is provided between motor 13 and theworm wheel 24- of the limit stop mechanism 11, whereupon the worm wheel24 and training gear are rotated in unison.

It will be noted, FIG. 3, that the gear 24 is secured to one end ofrotatable sleeve 29 as at 31, the other end of the sleeve having a dial32 secured thereto as at 33, it being understood by this arrangementthat the gear 24, sleeve 29 and the dial 32 are secured together in sucha manner as to rotate as a unit in response to rotation of the Wormwheel 24 by the Worm 26. The

sleeve 29 is rotatably supported in a bearing 3 carried by a support 35which may constitute the front panel of a casing for enclosing themechanism 11, as best shown on FIG. 3. The dial 32 is provided with apair of identical degree scales $6 and 37, the aforesaid scalescooperating with an index element 36 mounted on the support 35, theaforesaid scale and index arrangement being adapted to accuratelyindicate the position of the guns G supported on the training gear 12.

A sleeve 39 is disposed Within sleeve 29 and is rotatably supported on ashaft 41, the sleeve 39 extending through sleeve 29 and having a gear 42secured to one end and an arm 43 secured to the other end thereof. Thearm 43 is carried by a split clamp 44 disposed about the sleeve 39 andclamped thereto by a nut and bolt 45. The shaft 41 extends throughsleeve 39 and has secured to one end a gear 46 and an arm 47 secured tothe other end thereof, the arm 47 being carried by a split clamp 48disposed about the shaft 41 and clamped thereto by a nut and bolt 49, asmore clearly shown on FIGS. and 6.

As shown on FIG. 2, gear 46 is provided with an indicator or pointer 51secured thereto as at 52, the gear 46 being in engagement with a drivingpinion 53 mounted on a stud shaft or locking bolt 54 carried by and inthreaded engagement with the degree indication dial 32 and adapted torotate the gear or disc 46 in response to rotation of the aforesaid dial32. It will be noted that gear 42 is provided with an indicator orpointer 55 secured thereto as at 56, the gear 42 carrying the pointer 55being in engagement with a driving pinion 57, similar to driving pinion63 and mounted on a stud shaft or locking bolt 58 carried by and inthreaded engagement with the aforesaid dial 32 and adapted to rotate thegear 4-2 in response to rotation of the dial By the aforesaid lockingbolt arrangement it will be understood that when pinions 53 and 57 arelocked to disc 32 by their respective locking bolts discs or gears 42and 46 are driven by their respective pinions 53 and 57 in response torotation of dial 32 through sleeve 29, worm wheel 24- and worm 26. Itwill be further understood, however, that the aforesaid disc elements 42and 46 are settable at will to different settings about the dial 32whereupon pointers 51 and 55 on the respective disc elements are movedto the desired degree markings on the dial 32 thereby to cause the stoplimit mechanism to function when the guns have been moved either in aright or left train, as the case may be, an amount corresponding to apreselected setting of the discs 42 and 46. The desired settings of thediscs 42 and 46 may be accomplished by loosening the locking bolts adetail of which is illustrated on FIG. 6 and which normally locks thepinions 53-57 to the dial 32, an amount sufficiently to unlock thepinions from the dial 32 and allow free rotation of the pinions. Thusupon rotation of the pinions the discs 42 and 46 may be rotated withrespect to the dial 32 to position the degree indicators 51 and 55 onthe discs 42 and 46 in registration with the desired degree markings ondial 32.

It will be noted FIGS. 3 and 5 that the arms 43 and 47 each carry a pinor roller '59 on the free end thereof, each roller 59 being adapted tocooperate with a detent or lever 61 mounted on one end of a pair ofshafts 62 respectively. Each shaft 62 is supported by bracket 63 carriedby or forming a part of the casing which encloses the mechanism Ill andhaving secured thereto and rotatable therewith a gear 64, the aforesaidshaft being journaled in supports or brackets 63. A shaft 65 isrotatably supported by each of the brackets 63 and having a pinion 66mounted on one end, the other end thereof connected to a potentiometer67 thereby to operate the potentiometers in response to the rotation ofthe potentiometer shafts 65. The potentiometers, when operated, areparticularly adapted to provide a slowdown signal for the train drivemotor when discs 42 and 46 have been rotated an amount corresponding toa preselected setting thereof, the signal being developed as arms 4-3and 47 are rotated by their respective driving means to actuate thedetents 61 each of which, in turn, rotates a shaft 65 through itsrespective gear 64 and pinion 66. It will be understood, however, thatdial 32 is rotated an amount corresponding to the rotation of the gunsby sleeve 22 as worm Wheel 2 is driven by worm 26. Furthermore, one ofthe potentiometers will be operated to provide a signal in accordancewith a preselected setting of disc 42 as the guns are trained in onedirection (right train) and approach a position corresponding to thepreselected setting of disc 42 and the other potentiometer will providea signal in accordance with a preselected setting of disc 46 as the gunsare trained in the reverse direction (left train) and approach aposition corresponding to the preselected setting of disc 4-6.

For example, as arm 47 is rotated in the direction as indicated by thearrow A, FIG. 5, the left train detent 61 is moved as roller 59 mountedon arm 47 engages the detent. Upon movement of the detent in theaforesaid manner rotative movement is imparted to the wiping contact ofpotentiometer 67 disposed at the right of arm 47, by way of shaft 62,gears 64 and 66 and wiping shaft 65 and thus the potentiometer isoperated and produces a signal when the guns are trained to the left andreach a position corresponding to the preselected setting of discs 46.It will be understood that although arm 43 rotates in the same directionas arm 47 during the left train cycle of operation, the potentiometer 67associated therewith and disposed at the left of arm 43 will not beoperated, for the reason that during this cycle of operation roller 59on arm 43 overrides the right train detent without effecting operationof the specific potentiometer associated therewith. When arm 43 isrotated in the direction as indicated by arrow B, FIG. 5, the righttrain detent 61 is moved as the roller mounted on arm 43 engages theaforesaid detent. In response to this movement, rotative movement isimparted to wiping contact of potentiometer 67 disposed at the left ofarm 43, by way of shaft 62, gears 66 and 66, and wiping shaft 65 andthus the potentiometer is operated and produces a signal when the gunsare trained to the right and reach a position corresponding to thepreselected setting of disc .2. During this cycle of operation roller 59on arm 47 overrides the left train detent 61 without effecting operationof the specific potentiometer associated therewith.

Each of the gears 64 is provided with a return device generallyindicated by the reference character 68 for returning the potentiometersto an initial position after the potentiometer shafts have been rotatedin the aforesaid manner by the pin and detent arrangement. As shown onFIG. 4, each return device comprises a pair of mutually spaced pins orrollers 69 mounted on each of the gears 64- and normally in engagementwith an elongated head 71 carried by a piston or member '72 movablyarranged within a support or bracket 73. A spring '74 is disposed abouteach member '72 and having one end in engagement with head 71 and theother end thereof in engagement with bracket 73. By the aforesaidarrangement the potentiometers and component parts thereof such, forexample, as the conventional slider carried by each of the shafts 65 aremaintained in an initial position. Upon actuation of the slider shaft 65through pinion 66, gear 64, detent 61 and arm 43, as heretofore morefully set forth, the return mechanism 68, under the the influence ofspring '74, now compressed by rollers 69 in response to rotation of gear64, will move the slider shaft 65 back to its initial position.

Referring again to FIG. 1 it will be understood that the aforesaid motorand gear arrangement is adapted to cause rotation of the guns and wormwheel 24 in either right or left train in accordance with the directionof rotation of train drive motor 13. It will be understood that thelimit stop device if of the present invention is constructed andarranged to develop signals when disc 42 is moved a predetermined amountin one direction and disc 46 is moved a predetermined amount in thereverse direction, such movement of the discs corresponding to theamount of movement or training of the guns by reason of the aforesaiddriving connection therebetween.

Briefly stated in summary the automatic stop limit of the presentinvention is particularly adapted for use With power operated gun mountsand although the invention has been described in connection with a guntraining mechanism it will be understood, however, that, if desired, theinvention may be used in connection with a gun elevation or depressionmechanism.

What is claimed is:

I. A signal altering mechanism suitable for use with a power operatedgun trainable in either of two directions and comprising a rotatabledial element having a degree scale disposed about the outer edgethereof, power operated gun means for rotating said dial elementaccording to the rotations of said gun, a pair of rotatably mounted discmembers settable to a different setting with respect to said scale onthe dial element, a first coupling means normally locked to the dialelement in engagement with one disc member of said pair of disc membersfor rotating said one disc member in either direction in accordance withthe direction of rotation of the dial element, a first locking meanscarried by said dial element for locking the first coupling means tosaid dial element at a preselected setting and for releasing the firstcoupling means to allow adjustment of the dial member to saidpreselected setting with respect to said dial element as the lockingmeans is released, a second coupling means normally locked to the dialelement in engagement with the other disc member of said pair of discmembers for rotating the other disc member in either direction inaccordance with the direction of rotation of the dial element, a secondlocking means carried by the dial element for locking the secondcoupling means to the dial element at a preselected setting and forreleasing the second coupling means to allow adjustment of the otherdisc member to said preselected setting with respect to the dial elementas the second locking means is released, a first potentiometer foraltering a signal received thereby as the potentiometer is operated,means including a first gear train operatively connected to said firstpotentiometer for operating the first potentiometer as the first geartrain is operated, means carried by the one disc member for operatingthe first gear train when the one disc member has been rotated an amountcorresponding to said preselected setting, a second potentiometer foraltering a signal received thereby as the potentiometer is operated,means including a second gear train operatively connected to said secondpotentiometer for operating the second potentiometer as the second geartrain is operated, and means carried by the other disc member foroperating the second gear train when the other disc member has beenrotated an amount corresponding to said preselected setting.

2. A signal altering mechanism suitable for use with a power operatedtrainable gun operable in either of two directions and comprising arotatable dial having a degree scale thereon, power operated gun meansfor rotating said dial according to the rotation of the gun, a pair ofrotatably mounted disc members settable to different settings withrespect to said scale on the dial, a first coupling device normallylocked to said dial in engagement with one disc member of said pair ofdisc members for rotating said one disc member in either direction inaccordance with the direction of rotation of the dial, first meanscarried by said dial for locking the first coupling device to the dialat a preselected setting and for releasing the first coupling device toallow adjustment of said one disc member to said preselected settingwith respect to the dial as the first means is released, a secondcoupling device normally locked to said dial in engagement with theother disc member of said pair of disc members for rotating the otherdisc member in either direction in accordance with the direction ofrotation of the dial, second means carried by the dial for locking thesecond coupling device to the dial at a preselected setting and forreleasing the second coupling device to allow adjustment of the otherdisc member to said preselected setting with respect to the dial as thesecond means is released, a first potentiometer for altering a signalreceived thereby as the potentiometer is operated, a first gear trainoperatively connected to the first potentiometer for operating thepotentiometer, a first detent carried by said first gear train foroperating the gear train, a first actuating arm carried by said one discmem her and actuated thereby for actuating the first detent uponrotation of the one disc member, a second potentiometer for altering asignal received thereby as the potentiometer is operated, a second geartrain operatively connected to the second potentiometer for operatingthe second potentiometer, a second detent carried by the second geartrain for operating the second gear train, a second actuating armcarried by the other disc member and actuated thereby for actuating thesecond detent upon rotation of the other disc member.

3. A signal altering mechanism according to claim 2 wherein meansincluding a first spring biased member returns the first potentiometerand first gear train to an initial position after the one disc has beenrotated and the first potentiometer has been operated.

4. A signal altering mechanism according to claim 2 wherein meansincluding a second spring biased member returns the second potentiometerand second gear train to an initial position after the other disc memberhas been rotated and the second potentiometer has been operated.

5. A signal altering mechanism suitable for use with a power operatedtrainable gun operable in either of two directions and comprising arotatable dial having a degree scale disposed about the outer edgethereof, driving means for imparting rotary movement to said dial ineither of two directions and corresponding to the direction of rotationof a gun, rotatably mounted disc means settable to different settingswith respect to said degree scale on the dial, coupling means normallylocked to said dial for rotating said disc means in either directionaccording to the direction of rotation of the dial, 1ocking meanscarried by said dial for locking said coupling means to the dial at apreselected setting and for releasing the coupling means to allow thedisc means to be moved to a preselected setting, means for altering anelectrical signal when the disc means are rotated an amountcorresponding to said preselected setting, actuating means including agear train for operating the signal altering means, and means carried byand movable With said disc means for operating said actuating means andgear train when the disc means has been rotated an amount correspondingto said preselected setting.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,029,362 Hall June 11, 1912 2,365,982 Trofimov Dec. 24, 1944 2,426,597Chafee Sept. 2, 1947 2,586,982 iNaugler et al. Feb. 26, 1952 2,662,146Wilentchik Dec. 8, 1953

